You Need to Know These Five Manufacturing Skills to Master the Skills Gap

As the manufacturing industry continues to evolve, it’s crucial to focus on fundamental skills that can enhance your success. By developing both hard and soft skills, you can better navigate the skills gap in manufacturing—an issue arising from the lack of qualified individuals with the necessary manual, operational, or technological skills. What are the factors contributing to this skills gap, and how can you address it?

Several factors affect the skills gap. A significant issue is the impending retirement of the baby boomer generation, which is leading to a loss of experienced workers. Additionally, advancements in machine technology require individuals with specialized skills to operate, program, and design machinery. Employers seek candidates knowledgeable in IoT, robotics, Industry 4.0, and machine monitoring, making it challenging to find qualified personnel.

Moreover, there is a trend of people moving away from blue-collar jobs in favor of white-collar positions, which often promise higher pay, job security, and career advancement. This shift results in a shortage of skilled blue-collar workers, complicating the hiring and training process in manufacturing. Essentially, the skills gap occurs when manufacturing plants need highly skilled workers but struggle to find enough candidates to fill those roles, hindering business operations and growth.

So, what are the most crucial manufacturing skills to learn, and how can you leverage them to close the skills gap in your factory?

1. Tech and Digital Skills
   As manufacturing increasingly relies on technology, it’s essential for your staff to be proficient in using digital tools that are becoming commonplace. This includes becoming adept at operating new systems, platforms, software, and AI tools for data management. Employees should also be trained to service machinery, including robotic systems, ensuring multiple staff members can support these critical functions.
2. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
   While some tasks can be automated, many require human intervention. Essential human skills include problem-solving and critical thinking. Being able to analyze and resolve issues efficiently allows employees to respond appropriately to challenges as they arise.
3. Effective Communication
   Soft skills, particularly effective communication, are vital for fostering complex relationships in the workplace. These skills are particularly important for individuals aspiring to management or leadership roles. Strong communication abilities help team members collaborate effectively and resolve conflicts.
4. Lean Manufacturing
   As a business owner, it’s important to adopt a broader perspective on your factory’s operations. This strategic mindset can help identify opportunities for process improvement, enhancing efficiency. Learning about lean manufacturing principles enables you to identify and eliminate waste without compromising product quality.
5. Creativity
   Contrary to the belief that manufacturing stifles creativity, innovative thinking is crucial in this sector, especially in product design. The ability to transform ideas into marketable products is a valuable skill that can open many doors for employees.

The Bottom Line
Manufacturing is a specialized field requiring a mix of hard and soft skills. Ensuring your team possesses these competencies will strengthen your operations and help bridge the skills gap. To fund the upskilling of your manufacturing team in 48 hours, contact Merchant Capital today.